Fise-escape



'llllllf "WLLIAM MILLER, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,778, dated July 9, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lVILLLur MILLER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of lliassachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape; and l do hereby declare that the following a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying` drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2, is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of my extension ladders in a larger scale than the previous figures.

Similar letters of reference in the three figures indicate corresponding parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, l will proceed to describe its construction and operation with reference to the drawing.

The platform A, of the truck is supported by four wheels B, B, and its front end is raised so that the fore wheels B', can be turned into a position at right angles with the longitudinal center of the truck, whenever it is desired to retain the same in its position. From the front end of the platform a goose neck C, rises, which supports the ladders when the same are lowered.

The main ladder D, is connected by means of pivots a, to two standards b, b, which are rigidly attached to the platform, and a toothed segment E, one end of which is firmly secured to the ladder' D, serves to elevate the ladders. This segment gears into a pinion o, that is fastened to a shaft d, and motion is imparted to it by means of a crank e. By turning this crank in the direction of the arrow marked near it in Fig. l, the ladders are elevated and by turning the crank in the opposite direction'to said arrow the ladders are lowered. lf it should be desirable to allow the person or persons turning the shaft CZ, to exert more power in elevating or lowering the ladders, than the simple pinion will admit, an endless screw gearing into a suitable worm wheel on the shaft d, or any other suitable multiplication of gear wheels may be employed. By the aid of the toothed segment and pinion the ladders can be brought to an upright position, or to any desired inclination, and in order to retain them in their position, a catch f', is provided which is pivoted to the under side of the platform and which, when pushed back, catches into the cogs of the pinion and prevents it turning spontaneously.

The side rails g, of the ladder D, are made tubular, the rounds z, being attached to the outside of said tubes as clearly shown in Fig. 3, of the drawing, and the tubes g, form the guides for the side rails z', of the second ladder F, the rounds j, of this ladder passing through slots /.f:, in the inner sides of the tubular side rails g, of the main ladder D. The side rails i, of the second ladder F, are also tubular and they form the guides for the side rails Z, of the third ladder G, the rounds m, of this ladder passing through slots a, in the inner sides of the tubular side rails Z.

The ladders are extended by means of a \\'indlass H, which is secured to the main ladder D, and which is operated by a crank O. A cord p, extends from this windlass over a pulley p, that is secured to the upper round of the main ladder, and down to the lowest round of the second ladder F, and another cord y, which is secured to the lowest round of the main ladder, extends over a pulley g', secured to a bar near the upper end of the second ladder and down to the lowest round of the third ladder. By this arrangement of the cords the third ladder is elevated twice as fast as the second ladder, so that when the top of the second ladder projects l0 feet above the top of the main ladder, the top of the third ladder will project the same distance, that is, 10 feet above the top of the second ladder, and in the same manner both ladders are lowered simultaneously.

The tubular side rails g, of the main ladder D, form the guides for the side rails of the second ladder F, and the rounds e', of this ladder being made to slide on the edge of the slots 7c, in the side rails g, are strengthened and guided by said slots, and in the same manner the side rails of the third ladder G, are guided by the tubular side rails z', of the second ladder, and the rounds m, of the third ladder are guided and strengthened by the slots a, in the side rails Z. It is obvious that two or more ladders may be combined in the same manner, but for general use three ladders each about 20 feet long other in the manner herein shown and de;

Will be all that is required. y

I do not claim broadly the invention of tubular ladders, nor the construction of ladders to slide one inside of the other, but,

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

l. Having the ladders of fire escapes inade of slotted tubular niet-al and rounds arranged and operating in respect to each l i l scribed.

2. The combination of the curved rack E, With the hinged ladder D, operating pinion c, and platform A, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and described.

IVM. MILLER. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS BROWN, S. R. SMITH. 

